Ontario is rolling out an energy conservation program that will pay residents with smart thermostats to lower their air conditioning during certain periods in the summer.
Energy Minister and Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith says residential customers who sign up for the Peak Perks program will receive a $75 prepaid credit card in exchange for giving their smart thermostat manufacturer secure access to the device.
They’ll continue to receive $20 each year they are enrolled.
There would be up to 10 times during peak periods of electricity consumption between June and September during which their thermostat would be adjusted two to four degrees.
The government says the adjustment would typically last for no more than three hours, wouldn’t be on weekends or holidays, and participants can opt out of any temperature change.
“Well we found in other jurisdictions that this has worked really well. You know, individuals and small businesses signed up and they can get this benefit back and it’s helped reduce the peak in the province during those 10 days when we expect to see them approaching the peak output for the province.”
The Progressive Conservatives cancelled a number of energy conservation programs early in their first term in government, and critics have said their new $342-million suite of programs doesn’t replace what existed previously.
Smith says Ontario’s electricity grid was in a different situation then, with a surplus of power that was sometimes being sold at a loss to neighbouring jurisdictions.
More on the program is available by clicking here.
(With files from the Canadian Press)
Comments